Qatar Sports Marching On, Overcoming the Global Pandemic Challenges
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SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2020 Qatar sports marching on, overcoming the global pandemic challenges Best version Qatar will present the best version of FIFA World Cup 2022 and we have proven our ability to organise the biggest world tournaments. Hassan Al Thawadi, Secretary- General, Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy An aerial picture of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Al Thumama Stadium, one of eight state-of-the-art World Cup venues, the design of which has been inspired by the traditional ‘gahfiya’ – a traditional woven cap worn by men in the Middle East region. The 40,000-capacity stadium will host World Cup matches through to the quarter-finals.(SC) N March this year, as The SC began by identifying this was a bold move. “It was Stars League’s efforts to facili- Champions League West Re- the COVID-19 pandemic those most at risk due to un- very challenging to organise a tate the safe return of football, gion Group Stage matches wrought havoc, the world derlying health conditions digital event during the pan- Al Arabi skipper Aron Gun- from the 14th of September ground to a halt – and and isolated them, assuring demic, but we didn’t want to narsson said: “The QSL has onwards, and Al Khater saw Ithe sports sector was no ex- employees that the measures hold back. We wanted to be in- tried everything possible to this as a real opportunity to ception. For the first time would have, “no effect on sala- novative and pay tribute to the make sure that football can trial the infrastructure in ad- since the Second World War, ries, and food and accommo- frontline health workers. The return back to normal. You vance of 2022. national leagues, continental dation (would be) covered for live programmes we produced have to compliment them for “We are very eager to test tournaments, and even the any individual forced to tem- in collaboration with Qatar getting football back to normal out the innovative cooling sys- Olympic Games were called porarily relocate.” Foundation and beIN SPORTS in Qatar. If you look at other tems we have installed in the off, rendering the sporting cal- Working alongside the local were a fitting tribute to every- countries in the region, they World Cup host stadiums,” endar bare - an unprecedented health authorities, the SC intro- one who has given so much to have not been able to get foot- he revealed, “which maintain series of events in peace time. duced their own 1000-capacity fight this dreadful virus.” ball back yet. We feel that the a temperature of between 18 Qatar’s government quick- isolation facility, allowing them The SC’s isolation facility players are safe and ready to and 24 degrees, which in turn ly took the wise decision to to minimise the risk of infec- was able to close in mid-Au- kick on again.” will help fans to feel more suspend all sporting activities tion amongst their workforce. gust due to a significant drop Despite the hunger to comfortable during a period of across the nation. However, “The proactive strategy we em- in cases. However, Al Thawadi recommence the league, the year when the high sum- with the FIFA World Cup Qa- ployed enabled us to manage acknowledges that the situa- Ahmed Abbassi, QSL’s Execu- mer temperatures have not tar 2022 growing ever closer, the spread of COVID-19 on our tion is ever-evolving, and con- tive Director of Competition fully abated.” the country’s sporting bodies projects for up to six weeks, un- tinues to be monitored as such. and Football Development Al Khater also expressed had some tough decisions to til the first case was reported,” The SC were not the only stressed, “It was never a case his pride that Qatar is, “play- make. How would their na- Al Thawadi stated. entity in Qatar’s vibrant foot- of being one of the first (in the ing an active role in the safe tional football team, who are Such stringent measures ball sector facing challenges. region) to start,” and that QSL and gradual return of football currently ranked 54th in the allowed for the Education City Sporting activities were initial- “never felt a pressure to be the activity on a continental level world, continue to train for stadium to open its doors on ly suspended for two weeks, first.” It was a case of safety for football fans across the lowing football fans the world keen to account for. “We’re the biggest challenge of their the 15th of June 2020. While and few could have imagined first, every step of the way”. world,” despite the fact that over to, once again, contem- acutely aware of the socioeco- careers? How could stadium previous stadiums have been that, four months down the The state-of-the-art cooling fans cannot currently be pre- plate a spectacular footballing nomic effects of the pandemic and infrastructure deadlines inaugurated amidst glitzy line, the Qatar national team systems in place at the majority sent. Despite such enforced re- festival. around the world,” Al Thawadi be met, while continuing to ceremonies at prestigious would still not be back on the of Qatar’s football arenas may strictions, he shared his belief Al Thawadi recognises the revealed, “and are striving to safeguard the workforce? competition finals, this time pitch. Once play finally did have played a part, as they al- that “football has the power newfound responsibilities Qa- offer an affordable and safe Speaking at the World In- around the organising com- resume, it was in vastly differ- lowed the likes of the QNB Stars to bring people together even tar 2022 has to the global com- World Cup. As societies strive novation Summit for Health mittee knew they would have ent circumstances. Stringent League and the AFC Champi- through their screens,” to help munity, amid the realisation to emerge from lockdowns, (WISH) last week, Hassan Al to get creative, staging a digi- health and safety protocols ons League to go ahead, which alleviate some of the hard- that it could well be the biggest sport is playing an important Thawadi, Secretary-General tal opening event alongside a were implemented, with con- would otherwise have been an ships that millions of people post-Covid event on the inter- role in our journey toward a of the Supreme Committee poignant tribute to the front- stant testing, strict isolation impossibility during the hot are facing. national calendar. Since the return to normalcy… In many for Delivery & Legacy (SC), re- line workers assisting in the and severe fines imposed for summer months. With two years to go until celebration of the three-year ways, I believe Qatar 2022 called this tumultuous period, fight against COVID-19. anybody found to be breaking The cooling technology the tournament kicks off, the countdown, the goalposts have has become even more im- and shed light on the decision- Nasser Al Khater, CEO the new rules. was a key factor in the decision efficacy of recently discovered indisputably moved - some- portant due to recent events.” making process that ensued. of Qatar 2022, admitted that Complimenting the QNB to host the AFC’s postponed vaccines are – at long last – al- thing which the organisers are (Alkass Digital) GWC excited towards providing logistics operations for the world’s largest single sport event: GWC chairman TRIBUNE NEWS NETWORK sports and event logistics ser- dinated reverse logistics. DOHA vices, as well as warehousing, “GWC offers this multitude freight forwarding, transpor- of services with over 3 million ON the occasion of two years tation, IT, and fine art crucial square meters of integrated lo- to FIFA World Cup Qatar to the smooth and efficientde - gistics infrastructure, a global 2022™ countdown, Sheikh livery of this world-class event. freight forwarding network, Abdulla bin Fahad bin Jas- We have every confidence that more than 1200 specialised sem bin Jabor Al Thani, GWC we will showcase to the world transportation vehicles, best Chairman, expressed excite- what Qatar is capable of in the in class IT solutions, compre- ment and GWC’s (Official Lo- fields of sports, culture, tour- hensive tracking systems, and gistics Provider) commitment ism, and beyond” highly competent team of pro- in delivering this massive un- On the full spectrum of lo- fessionals with unrivalled ac- dertaking and fulfil the world’s GWC Chairman Sheikh Abdulla gistics operations offered, he cess to the stadiums as the Of- largest single sport event. bin Fahad bin Jassem bin added: “From venue manage- ficial Logistics Provider for the He commented: “On the oc- Jabor Al Thani. ment, broadcasting, and cold FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™. casion of the two-year milestone chain logistics, to shipping, “We take this national man- before the FIFA World Cup Qa- of the nation towards the devel- customs clearance, warehous- date very seriously, and our tar 2022™ and as the Official opment and completion of the ing, and distribution, down to highly developed logistics infra- Logistics Provider for the tour- various infrastructure for Qatar the logistics management of structure and host of services nament we would like to express 2022™ coming together under merchandise, souvenirs, food, have fully prepared us for this how excited we are in Qatar to a united and sustainable vision. and beverage – all details, large undertaking, and we continue deliver this massive undertak- “In 2022, all eyes will and small, will require end-to- to develop and improve in order ing and fulfil the world’s larg- turn to Qatar, and delivering maximum application of our er before experienced in World tournament, making GWC’s end tracking and execution, to ensure the successful actual- est single sport event.